Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� January, 2002

International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan Monday, January 21, 2002 Click photographs to enlarge The International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan was held this morning at a hotel in Tokyo with approximately 60 nations and 20 international organizations in attendance. In his opening speech, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi recognized that the international community stands united against the challenge of inhumane terrorists overcoming differences of culture, religion and national boundaries. He then stated, "This conference in Tokyo is expected to indicate the way forward for the process of recovery and reconstruction" and called for international cooperation in the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, stating "I call on all the nations and international organizations represented here today to demonstrate our firm determination to be united in support of the efforts by the people of Afghanistan." Concerning Japan's measures in this regard, the Prime Minister said, "Japan will do its utmost to support the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Japan's assistance will focus on supporting the process towards peace and national reconciliation, as well as on people-building. The future of Afghanistan has to be built by its own people," and announced that Japan would provide up to US$500 million in assistance to Afghanistan in the coming two and a half years. Preceding the Conference, Prime Minister Koizumi met with Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States and confirmed that Japan and the United States would cooperate closely toward assisting the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In the afternoon, Prime Minister Koizumi held a series of meetings in which he met European Commissioner for External Affairs Christopher Patten, Chairman Hamid Karzai of the Afghanistan Interim Administration and Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations. Chairman Karzai expressed his gratitude for the great amount of reconstruction assistance offered by Japan and furthermore requested bilateral assistance in sectors such as education, road construction and telecommunications.